Friday's Meetings Thirsk Flat 8 Races 1:15-5:05p.m. Newmarket Flat 7 Races 1:35-4:54p.m. Ffos Las Flat 7 Races 1:35-4:57p.m. Tipparary(E) Flat 7 Races 4:15-7:40p.m. Hamilton(E) Flat 7 Races 4:35-7:53p.m. Down Royal(E) N/H 7 Races 4:40-8:00p.m. Goodwood(E) Flat 6 Races 5:01-7:45p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
A few observations. I see Cazoo have withdrawn their Derby sponsorship. Two things occurred to me at the time that this was announced. The first was what were they thinking when putting such a brand as The Derby next to a Used Car Salesman. The second was that the well-worn statement 'would you buy a used car from this man', always seemed to be in my thoughts. We've all seen the small fields we have had over the last 2 months. There are a whole bunch of well-bred 2yos waiting to make their debuts. A major problem now is the banding system. Look at the fixtures and you'll see many of them are graded bands C & D, or indeed just band D. Basically the bands are based on the covering fees for sires: A being the most expensive with D the cheapest. Now it's good to see cheaper sires being given their chances: where would be without Kodiac, Showcasing and Mehmas? But it's unfair on those owners who have bred or bought horses by expensive stallions and on many days of the week have no races in which to run them. A minor problem is the reintroduction of Novice events over Maiden events. Again I'm all for Novice events, which allows a winning 2yo to get more experience running in his class, rather than taking the step up to Listed/Group races (or indeed Nurseries). But again I feel it's been overdone. With good to soft ground on its way look forward to many divisions of maidens and indeed 2yo novice events. 10 race cards could be on their way. Well 9.
Good riddance, was never at all happy with Cazoo sponsoring The Derby. Surely there are many other activities that Cazoo can sponsor, without embarrassing 'The Sport of Kings'? Digressing, trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam has never been a favourite of mine, for various reasons which I do not have to go in to. However, if he wins the Fillies' Handicap at Newmarket today (14:00) with the top weight, I will be mortified, but it will serve me right!
